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Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Higher Ground

"Higher Ground"

Message summary: The Psalmist provides our Scriptural support for this message, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

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"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Overhead projectorIn our childhood and throughout our young adult years most church singing was from the hymnbook. Of course there were songs that it seems everyone knew such as "Jesus Loves Me This I know" that we sung by memory. Over time we began to sing newer choruses and initially a mimeographed copy or booklet would have been passed around with the new songs and then we went hi-tech using the overheard projector, a marvel of modern engineering. But through this age we also used the hymnbook as well.

PowerpointThen the PowerPoint Projector came along and now it seems most churches only use these. In our church we still have hymnals but have rarely used them over the past decade in the main sanctuary. Even when a selected song is in our hymnal it is projected to the screen.

Most of the worship songs we sing are newer, usually written in the last .5% of church history (10 years, and I presume this is true in many churches).* We are blessed by this music but we also enjoy singing those written throughout the ages. We readily acknowledge the dilemma for musicians, that you can't please everybody especially with music! Brooksyne understands this well as she was worship leader for many years throughout our pastorates and even since our move to Lancaster County in 2001.

As you age the music you have been exposed to and sung grows more and more and that can be a blessing in reminding and reinforcing spiritual truths such as an old song that comes to mind for today's message called "Higher Ground" written in 1892. How many of you have sung it?

Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on heaven’s tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground

When the song was written "higher plane" certainly wasn't about a plane flying at a high altitude! It would never have entered the minds of those who sang it at that time in history.

What is your source of hope and joy today?

For some it's politics and the promises made of a better life to come. A large rally can really stir the crowd with enthusiasm.

It can be the joy of winning a sporting event, especially in a large crowd. Several years ago Ester and I were at Fenway when the Red Sox won a playoff game and the atmosphere became electric with spectators slapping high fives and cheering voices filling the air.

It might be a business meeting with projections of success as a leader rallies the team.

Of course a Christian worship service can and should have the element of filling our hearts with hope and joy, especially when it turns our focus to the higher plane of our friendship with Jesus, fellowship divine.

This is expressed in another old chorus as well:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of his glory and grace

The Psalmist provides our Scriptural support for this message, "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Are you looking for hope in a political outcome? In this fallen world you will ultimately be disappointed, if that is where you place your hope.

I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,
“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying man Daily prayer: Father, I want to scale the utmost height and catch a gleam of glory bright; but still I'll pray til' heav'n I've found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground, as I seek to advance from one level to the next, step by step until my faith soars and I develop an intense desire to fulfill the purpose You have for me. One thing for sure I want to glorify You, my Father in heaven, and enjoy fellowship with You forever. Amen.

* Even in churches that still use hymnals most of the songs that are sung were written in the last 10% of church history (200 years). By observation most of the songs we sing today were actually written in the last five years!


Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Higher Ground"   Watch on YouTube  Kim Hopper, Wesley Pritchard, Amy Lambert and the Gaither Homecoming Singers

"Turn Your Eyes"  Watch on YouTube  The Glorious Christ Live  (This version has a beautiful new bridge written in recent years.)

In searching for a photo of an overhead projector I recalled a message I had written many years ago on a humor blog which I now rarely post to. If you have a sense of humor you may enjoy it!

Overhead to PowerPoint proposal creates firestorm in local church

Brooksyne's note: The article Stephen wrote in satire was a result of our hearing the true story of an overhead projector being introduced to a church here in Lancaster County in the 80's to aid in singing, and some were extremely upset. It really caused division in that very conservative church at the time!

The blog  “A Little Foolishness” is a sampling of ramblings of humor and satire regarding current church, theological, social and political issues.

Mennonite hay wagon
The interesting sights of Lancaster County!
We took this photo of a Mennonite farmer transporting a wagon load of hay. Although it looks like he's on some back road with little traffic he's actually entering a major intersection on US Highway 322 east of Ephrata, PA.

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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version and a variety of other versions.



Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."



 
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